Krafton
Krafton business and news from across the web.
Publisher Krafton finally agrees to pay bonuses to every Subnautica 2 staffer as Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill leaves againPublisher Krafton has agreed to pay promised bonuses to all staffers at developer Unknown Worlds for Subnautica 2, following a legal dispute and the game's success. Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill is departing the company again, stating that new leadership is best for the studio's future. The agreement ensures all employees will receive payouts, with further incentives tied to the game's ongoing updates.
Krafton and Unknown Worlds founders settle Subnautica 2 legal disputeKrafton and its subsidiary Unknown Worlds Entertainment, the developer of Subnautica 2, have reached a settlement to end a legal dispute. The agreement dismisses all pending proceedings, with Unknown Worlds continuing development on Subnautica 2 and Krafton providing support. The settlement includes bonuses for the Subnautica 2 staff, and a new CEO will be sought for Unknown Worlds.
Subnautica 2 devs win: Krafton will pay the whole team "significantly more" bonuses than previously planned, but the CEO is still leaving after a settlementPublisher Krafton has reached a settlement with Unknown Worlds, the developers of Subnautica 2, agreeing to pay the entire team significantly larger bonuses than initially planned. This resolution follows a legal dispute where ousted executives accused Krafton of attempting to avoid bonus payments, while Krafton cited neglect of duties. Although the settlement is reached, CEO Ted Gill will be leaving Unknown Worlds.
Subnautica 2’s Legal Troubles End With Bonuses And CEO’s ExitKrafton Inc. and Unknown Worlds Entertainment have reached a settlement to end legal disputes involving Subnautica 2's CEO Ted Gill. As part of the agreement, Gill has resigned, and the entire development team will receive bonuses in three annual installments, with further incentives tied to game updates. New leadership is being sought for the studio.- Subnautica 2 Developer's Entire Staff Get Their Bonuses After Krafton Agrees to Settlement, but CEO Steps DownUnknown Worlds, the developer of Subnautica 2, will pay out all staff bonuses following a settlement reached between parent company Krafton and studio leadership. The settlement ensures employees receive their bonuses, though the CEO has stepped down.
Subnautica 2 Studio CEO Departs Again as Krafton Caves to Paying Promised BonusesUnknown Worlds Entertainment's CEO Ted Gill is stepping down again following a resolution with parent company Krafton over promised bonuses. After a legal battle, Krafton will pay over $250 million in bonuses to employees of Unknown Worlds, stemming from the acquisition in 2001 and the success of Subnautica 2, which has sold over four million copies in early access. The studio is also preparing updates for the game, including new features and improvements based on player feedback.
Project Zeta Global Community Test Adds New Hero Mika MistKrafton has launched the first global community test for its upcoming multiplayer tactical arena game, Project Zeta, on PC via Steam. The test, running until June 28, introduces a new hero named Mika Mist, who uses sound waves and neon visual effects as her primary attack. Developed by Nirvanana Studio, Project Zeta is aiming for a global Early Access launch in the latter half of 2026.
One of PS5's Most Promising Open World Games Is Finally Being Showcased in AugustThe promising open-world shooter RPG No Law, developed by Neon Giant, will be showcased at Gamescom in August by publisher Krafton. The game, set in a cyberpunk future, features ex-military protagonist Grey Harker and is expected to receive its most in-depth look yet at the event. A release window has not been announced, but a 2027 release is speculated.
PUBG's new AI teammate is somehow more useless than my friendsThe new Ally Duo game mode in PUBG features an AI teammate named Ella, designed to act and chat like a human. However, the AI companion proves to be ineffective, providing inconsistent information, failing to engage enemies, and lacking any conversational ability outside of the game. The article speculates on Krafton's investment in AI defense companies as a potential motive for this experimental feature.- Betawatch: EverQuest Legends’ preorders, ArcheAge’s rebootThis week's Betawatch covers several MMORPGs, including EverQuest Legends opening preorders for its July 28th launch and ArcheAge receiving a reboot for Chinese players. The article also highlights ongoing beta tests and demos for games like Embers of the Uncrowned and RF Online Next, while noting delays for Outward 2 and providing updates on Guild Wars 3's business model.
Weekend PC Download Deals for June 19: GOG.com Summer SaleThis weekend's PC gaming deals include GOG.com's Summer Sale featuring discounts on titles like Hollow Knight Silksong and Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition. Steam and Epic Games Store also have various sales, with free games available on Epic Games Store and Amazon Luna. Humble Bundle offers several game bundles for different price tiers.
PUBG has genAI team mates now capable of "intelligent decision-making", and I must remind you that Krafton are working on bots for the militaryPUBG: Battlegrounds is introducing generative AI teammates called PUBG Ally Duo, currently in beta, utilizing Nvidia technology for intelligent decision-making and speech capabilities. This initiative reflects Krafton's broader investments in generative AI, including a partnership with a military company for unpiloted robot systems. The beta aims to gather player feedback for the future of AI agents in games.
Nexus Purchases ONE Store in Korea, Aims to Create Worldwide Web3 Game Platform on CROSSNexus has acquired ONE Store, a major South Korean app marketplace, with plans to transform it into a domestic game hub and launch it globally as the first Web3-native game store. The platform will integrate AI for game discovery and curation, accommodating both human-created and AI-generated games. Strategic investments from SK Square, Naver, and Krafton support Nexus's vision to become the world's number one game platform.
Xbox is Punishing its Studios For Following Previous Orders – ReportA report indicates that Xbox is punishing its studios for following previous directives, leading to significant layoffs and studio closures. This follows major investments like the Activision Blizzard acquisition and the push for Game Pass, with some studios being criticized for prioritizing the subscription service over individual game sales. The situation has created an environment of fear and uncertainty, impacting game development.- Krafton is testing an AI-powered ally for PUBG and making esports deals for PUBG MobileKrafton is testing an AI-powered companion character named Ella for PUBG, designed to understand voice commands and assist human players in a new arcade mode. The company is also partnering with G2 to expand the esports scene for PUBG Mobile, focusing on Germany and Western Europe.
Forget NPCs, now we have CPCs — Co-Playable Characters or AI teammates in PUBG courtesy of Nvidia ACE tech, but…PUBG Battlegrounds is testing an Ally Duo Mode featuring AI teammates powered by Nvidia's ACE technology, allowing players to team up with an AI companion named Ella. While Nvidia promotes this as a revolutionary step in AI game characters, the article expresses skepticism, comparing it to advanced bots and questioning the 'human-like' interaction and potential impact on gameplay performance.
Double Fine, Ninja Theory reportedly among multiple Xbox studios rushing to negotiate an exit as Microsoft plans more…Microsoft's Xbox division is reportedly planning further studio closures and restructuring, with Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and Compulsion Games in negotiations to spin off independently. New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and CCO Matt Booty have indicated the current business model is unsustainable, leading to expected layoffs and studio cuts, following the recent closure of Tango Gameworks.- Project ZETA is Krafton’s new multiplayer team-based ‘tactical arena’ where players fight over a prismKrafton and Nivranana Studio's new multiplayer tactical arena game, Project ZETA, will hold a larger open test on Steam from June 25th to 28th. The game features four teams of three players competing to secure and return a 'prism' objective, with crossplay planned for PC and console release.
Microsoft CEO says Xbox must become 'sustainable' as it reportedly considers major spinoffMicrosoft CEO Satya Nadella stated that Xbox must become a 'sustainable' business, implying it has been subsidized rather than profitable. This follows reports that Microsoft is considering spinning out Xbox into a standalone unit, potentially to sell it or find a partner. The company also aims to speed up development for major franchises like Halo and The Elder Scrolls, while addressing challenges like memory chip price increases driven by AI companies.
PUBG extraction shooter, Black Budget, gets a date for its second playtestPUBG: Black Budget, an extraction FPS developed by Krafton, will hold its second closed alpha playtest from June 26 to June 29 for North America, Europe, and East Asia. Players can request access via Steam, with selected participants able to invite two friends. The game features a story-driven experience on a tropical island with up to 45 players and supernatural elements.